Taxonomic redescription of the red palm weevil (Rhynchophorus Ferrugineus)

Abstract

Taxonomic study was ultimately focused on the 247 specimens of Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (247) collected from various region of Kerala. Collected specimens were segregated into different populations (groups) according to the morphological variations within the species. The present study of economically important species had 67 illustrations and 44 line diagrams. Detailed description of all the taxonomic characters like head, rostrum, (dorsal and lateral), antennae, pronotum, elytron, femur, tibia, tarsus, venter and genitalia were studied and presented with line diagrams. Taxonomic description of the species are supplemented with standard taxonomic terminology along with genital characters and loaded with the morphometric ratios. The taxonomic study revealed that, morphological variations present among the groups may be due to environmental conditions, availability of food, and life stage of the plant on which they are feeding on. All the variations within the species were depicted with the differential distinguishing characters along with line diagrams.